It's Still Life

At an Intersection Named After an English King and a Saint
Six Sentence Story: Part 34

Channelling Agency

Pierre wants more black paint (he’s in his “Black Period, his Pinturas Negras,) and says he’s channelling Francisco Goya by recreating the “Witches’ Sabbath” on the walls of his bedroom – grey pithless sun-down hills spawning menace and shadow, and he shouts down the hallway at Hanzō, “When’s lunch? Is it soup yet?”

And Hanzō is a night dance at Arpege’s Back of House; the rhythm of Kodo’s Japanese war drum album, “Heartbeat: Drummers of Japan” provides agency for his cleaver and flailing wrist action … he is a bag full of God’s inspiration.

Meanwhile, I’m a damp squib from Pierre and Hanzō’s Coriolis effect – the shine has fast gone off Arpege’s haute cuisine (the portions are too small, the ingredients overpriced, and truffles in a perfume of hay-smoke has long since had its day).

I did an all-nighter on Saturday with an unfinished bottle of Champagne, laughing and emptying my head of introspection and self-doubt into Drake’s ai-analyticals … “Write him, as he wrote you, Brigid,” Drake said at near whisper, “he can help you untangle your thoughts.” (that was two weeks ago, and I’ve still done nothing about it – until today).

On a piece of heavy-weight pure white cardstock, I write in black ink: Scott Buckley, and dinner in exchange for conversation, Thursday, (it’s Samhain), 31 October 22:30 – the front door of Arpege will be unlocked …

and then I signed my name, addressed the envelope to NtGK, wrapped my shoulders in my new wool shawl, and walked to the Six Sentence Café & Bistro.

“Good afternoon,” smiles Bartender, and I place the envelope on the bar, “Would you give this to Nick when he comes in, please?”

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Previous Instalments – To access all of the instalments on one page, please use this link

Process notes: This is inspired by a recent poem called “Channelling Goya.” Six written for Denise’s Six Sentence Story, including the word “agency” which is used as a noun meaning to effect. Video explanation of the Coriolis Effect.

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